New Delhi: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar rubbished the rumours of being involved in the purchase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after reports went viral on Tuesday that the team is up for sale. Shivkumar said he is only associated with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and has no interest in buying RCB.
Shivkumar’s comments came after Diageo India, the Indian subsidiary of UK-based Diageo Plc that owns RCB, clarified that the reports of the company considering a stake sale or complete sale of the franchise are ‘speculative’ in nature and that no such discussion has taken place internally. The news of RCB’s potential sale surfaced just a week after they won their maiden IPL trophy.
However, Shivkumar distanced himself from the franchise with a hilarious remark regarding his drinking preference. “I am not a mad man. I’m just a member of the Karnataka Cricket Association from my younger days, that’s all. I don’t have time, though I had offers to be part of the management… Why do I need RCB? I don’t even drink Royal Challenge,” Shivakumar told news agency ANI.
Rumour: DK Shivkumar is buying the RCB franchise.
DKS: Why I need RCB… I don’t even drink Royal Challenger.
DK Shivkumar is the most honest politician among the Karnataka Congress leaders 🤣 pic.twitter.com/5tSCYyTINr
— Sunanda Roy 👑 (@SaffronSunanda) June 11, 2025
Diageo India refutes reports of RCB’s sale
Diageo India refuted the reports of the sale of IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in a regulatory filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the BSE Surveillance Department. Diageo responded to an email from the BSE Surveillance Department, seeking a response from the company after the news of RCB’s potential sale saw the shares of United Spirits, the Diageo-owned company, which owns RCB, shoot up.
“The company would like to clarify that the aforesaid media reports are speculative in nature and it is not pursuing any such discussion,” Mital Sanghvi, Diageo India’s Company Secretary, told BSE.
As per a report in Bloomberg, Diageo India was considering a partial or full sale of RCB at a valuation of around USD 2 billion (Rs 17,000 crore approximately). RCB is one of the most popular franchises in the IPL and has been part of the T20 league since its inception in 2008. RCB brought an end to an 18-year-long wait for their maiden IPL title earlier this month after defeating Punjab Kings in the final.
Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivkumar refuted the claims of being interested in purchasing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise in the IPL and made a hilarious remark about his drinking preference. IPL Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
